"Hello, Africa!" Natsu cheered. Natsu's class took a trip all the way to beautiful Ethiopia, Africa. It was a beautiful place to see as they were in.
"I can't believe we're here." Lucy said.
"Yes. A pity that Gray couldn't come and join us." Erza said.
"Yeah, but we'll bring him back a souvenir." Natsu said. Africa can be an amazing place, and Natsu and his class get to enjoy all of it. As Natsu was taking in what he saw, he roamed around to see more. That was a bad idea as someone held out his leg and caused him to trip. Natsu heard laughter coming from the school jock: Laxus Dreyar.
"Sheesh, Dragneel. Even in another country, you keep hitting the dirt." Laxus said with a few laughs from his entourage: Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen.
"Mr. Dreyar!" The teacher said. "Keep in mind that we are guests in this country, and I'm expecting everyone to be on their best behavior."
"Yeah, yeah." Laxus said as he didn't really care. He and his buddies just kept walking as Erza and Lucy helped Natsu up.
"What a jerk." Lucy said.
"Laxus just saw this as an excuse to get out of class." Erza said.
"Who cares? Not even Laxus is going to get in the way of me enjoying this." Natsu said. He was glad he had some time off. He was sure things would be fine without Salamander for a couple days.
"Come on. The teacher wants us to board the train." Erza said. The students boarded the train and were on their way.
...
The Train
All the students of Magnolia High boarded the train and were crossing through the great African lands. Natsu took in the sights with the girls. They were all amazed with what they were seeing.
"Ethiopia is a beautiful place." Lucy said.
"As beautiful as you." Natsu said as he had his arm around her.
"Natsu, don't insult the poor girl." Laxus said as he and his friend were in the next seats. "What's the big deal about this place?"
"Yeah, it's just a massive wasteland." Evergreen said.
"Come on, Laxus." Lucy said as she was getting annoyed with him. "Can't you try to enjoy your stay here? What are the chances you're going to be in Africa again?"
"They were probably better than the chances Natsu would have you as a girlfriend." Laxus said with his friends sharing a laugh. "Seriously. Why would a babe like you want to go out with a loser like him?" As he and his friends laughed, Natsu and Lucy had half a mind to go over and teach him a lesson.
"Just ignore him." Erza said.
"I'm glad Mirajane broke up with him. Why would a nice girl like want to go out with a jerk like him?" Lucy said. As they tried to enjoy their time in Africa, a middle-aged man with a briefcase cuffed to his wrist came over.
"Excuse me, but is this seat taken?" The man asked.
"No. Help yourself." Erza said.
"Thank you." The man said as he had a seat next to her. "I'm Professor Balu. I'm sorry to bother you. I'm on my way with some important research."
"It's nice to meet you. We're here on a school field trip." Erza said.
"What's in the briefcase?" Natsu asked.
"I'm sorry, but that's classified information." Balu said.
"Look! I think I can see the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance dam!" Lucy said. They all looked out the window and saw a glimpse of the dam. While they were enjoying the sight, a helicopter was flying over the train. The scary part was that there three humanoid animals in it. The pilot was a spotted hyena with an orange mohawk-like hairstyle. One was a large snake with snakes for hands. The last one was a badger with black hair and claws with a white streak running down his head to his back.
"Mamba, get ready. Laggend, keep this thing in the air." The badger said as he was ready to jump.
"We've got this. Just make sure you get what we're after, Woeste." Mamba said. Woeste jumped and landed right on the train. He used his claws and tore open the roof. He jumped right in and gave everyone a scare. He walked right over to Professor Balu.
"Give me the case." Woeste threatened.
"Hey, back off, you overgrown rodent." Natsu said.
"Yes, Woeste. Listen to the boy." A lady said as she showed up. A light shined around her and she changed clothes. She wore red African clothing without sleeves and had slits for her legs. She wore two gold bracelets around her wrists and walked around in bare feet with bandages around her legs. She also had a red and black mask around her eyes with her hair tied in a long braid. "Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"All I learn from you is how much I despise you." He swung a claw at her, but she ducked down and gave him a strong uppercut. She tackled him and pushed him back.
"Who is that?" Natsu asked.
"That is Illusie. She is the local crime fighter around these parts." Balu said.
"Finally, something interesting." Laxus said. Woeste slashed at her again, but she jumped over him. She jumped off the wall and kicked him back.
"Natsu, shouldn't you do something?" Lucy whispered.
"There's nowhere for me to go without revealing my identity." Natsu said. All he could do was watch, but it seemed like Illusie was holding her own.
"Let's see if the badger really learns." Illusie said as she touched the ground and the floor was disappearing. Woeste jumped and used his claws to stick to the ceiling. Illusie sat in one of the seats with her laughing with amusement. Woeste placed his foot down and felt solid ground.
"Your tricks tire me." Woeste as he came down. He tried slashing her with his claws, but all he hit was the seat.
"How did she do that?" Erza questioned.
"That is her power." Balu said. "She holds the power of illusions. They can appear quite realistic." Illusie reappeared behind Woeste and knocked him back.
"I've wasted enough of my time." Woeste said. "Mamba should be in position now."
"For what?" Illusie said. Mamba was able to make his way to the front of the train. He moved the conductor out of the way and messed with the controls as he accelerated the train. Others felt it and it didn't feel good.
"At the speed we're going, I doubt the train will be able to next upcoming turn." Woeste said. Illusie didn't have much of a choice. She left the cart and made her way to the front to try and stop the train. With her distracted, he walked right over to Balu as he grabbed his case.
"No!" Balu said as he tried to stop him.
"That's it." Natsu said as he was about to try something. Laxus beat him to it as he tackled Woeste.
"Ha! Not so touch, whatever you are." Laxus said, but Woeste turned to him with a snarl. That got Laxus to back down easily. Woeste took the case and used his claws to cut the chain. As for Illusie, she made it to the front as Mamba made an escape. She slammed on the brakes and tried to get the train to stop. As for the two animals, they got what they came for and made their escape. They climbed up a rope ladder to the helicopter as it flew off.
"Did you get it?" Laggend asked.
"Right here." Woeste said as he opened the case and saw a rolled paper with other documents. As for the train, it was coming up on a turn. Illusie still tried her best to stop the train. As people were worried about what might happen, the train was able to come to a stop. People were safe thanks to Illusie, but those animals took what they came for.
...
Later
Once the train was running again, Natsu's class continued on with the trip. The train ride was a shake, but everyone was doing fine. Once it got dark, and everyone checked into the hotel, Natsu was getting ready to go to work as he changed into his Salamander outfit.
"Natsu, it's Lucy." She said as she knocked on the door. He opened the door and made sure no one saw them. "You're really heading out there."
"Yeah, and I need you to cover for me." Natsu said. "I need to find out what's going on and see if I can do something. So much for relaxation."
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked.
"I need to find Illusie and help. I can't just stand around and do nothing." Natsu said.
"Just be careful out there." Lucy said as she gave him a kiss. Natsu put on his mask and went out the window. Natsu moved around the city, but he did realize a problem.
"Problem is that I have no idea where I'm going." Natsu said. "I guess Professor Balu would be a good place to start. I heard that he works at the museum." Natsu jumped form one building to the next as he tried to find his way to the museum. It was a little difficult, but Natsu made it to the museum. Luck would have it that Professor Balu walked inside. "Let's see what Africa has to offer for us superheroes." Natsu made his way into the building without being seen. When he made it inside, he soon found him talking to Illusie.
"Thank you for coming. This is a serious matter." Balu said.
"Yes. Woeste, Mamba, and Laggend are at it again. Those three are beasts." Illusie said. "I will do what I can."
"You mean you're going to give them a bath? One of them smelled like they needed it." Natsu said as he showed himself.
"Who are you?" Illusie questioned.
"It's okay." Natsu said as he dropped to the floor. "I'm on your side. My name is Salamander. I know what happened on the train. I came to help.
"Aw... I think I heard some American students talk about you." Balu said. "Maybe you can help."
"I want to." Natsu said. "Who attacked you and what did they take exactly?"
"Three savage animals." Illusie said. "Woeste the Honey Badge, Laggend the Spotted Hyena, and Mamba the Snake."
"What they took was a map." Balu said.
"A map?" Natsu questioned.
"It leads to a treasure that belonged to a tribe leader from over a hundred years ago." Illusie said. "Professor Balu studied the map to find the location of where the treasure was buried."
"It is actually buried underneath the Nile River that flows through here." Balu said. "The Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam is actually located where the treasure is."
"If they want to get to the treasure, they'll have to blow the dam and drain the river." Illusie said.
"But that will flood the entire town, with every life in it." Natsu said.
"Which is why we must hurry." Illusie said.
...
The Dam
The three animals went to the dam for the treasure just like Balu said. They were setting up explosives around the dam to blow it to bits. As Mamba and Laggend were setting up the explosives, Woeste was making sure everything was going well.
"Yes. As long as everything goes well, the treasure will be ours." Woeste said.
"How fitting something this big goes down big." Laggend said as he laughed.
"Woeste, do you have the remote?" Mamba asked.
"Right here." Woeste said as he held the detonator, but something was tossed and knocked the detonator out of his hands. All three of them looked to see Illusie and Salamander was able to find them.
"Shouldn't you be in your cages?" Salamander asked.
"Who's this, Illusie? Finally realize you can't beat us on your own?" Woeste asked.
"Even the mightiest of lions needs assistance." Illusie said.
"I got the remote!" Natsu said as he jumped far and went to the remote. However, Mamba tried to stop him. He stretched out his snake arms to try and bite him. Natsu avoided them and was able to grab them. He pulled Mamba closer and kicked him with both legs. Laggend took his turn as he tackled Natsu to the ground. "Down, Fido!" He kicked Laggend off and tried to fight both of them off. Woeste tried to slash at Illusie, but she jumped and kicked him in the face.
"I can't allow you blow the dam." Illusie said.
"You can't stop me." Woeste said as he kept fighting her. Laggend kept fighting Natsu. He tried to take several bites out of him, but Natsu kept out of reach.
"Bad dog!" Natsu said as he hit him across the face. Natsu added flames to his feet as he drove both legs against him in the face and knocked him down.
"The remote!" Mamba said as he was about to grab it. Illusie acted quickly and used her powers to make several fakes. Mamba couldn't tell which was real. Natsu used the opportunity to knock him in the head. He grabbed Mamba by his tail and smashed him against the ground.
"That's how you deal with a nasty snake." Natsu said. That was when Illusie was tossed against him. Woeste was able to overpower her and grabbed the real remote.
"Nothing will keep me from obtaining that treasure." Woeste said.
"Don't be so sure, Woeste." Illusie said. She made several copies of herself and had him surrounded. "Even the badger is caught in the spider's web."
"Hold it! One step closer and I'll blow the dam now!" Woeste threatened as he held the detonator.
"Seriously? You're a honey badger right? Honey is sweet. Can't you be sweet, honey?" Natsu said.
"You'll take yourself down with us?" Illusie said believing he was bluffing.
"I will if it will rid me of you." Woeste said.
"Think again, bad badger." Natsu said as he acted quickly. He flipped around and kicked the detonator out of his claws and took it from him. "Not bad for an outsider?" Woeste snarled with annoyance. He leaped at Natsu to finish him, but Natsu jumped back and stuck to the side of the dam. Woeste went over the edge and hit the dam. He rolled down it and hit the bottom as he was knocked out.
"Not bad for an outsider indeed." Illusie said as she held out her hand. Natsu took it and she helped him back up as the two of them shook hands. "Thank you, Salamander."
"No problem, but what about the treasure?" Natsu said.
"The museum will make sure it's safely retrieved." Illusie said. "I hope for the day we meet again."
"Same here." Natsu said as he gave her the detonator and began leaving as he jumped through the place. "That's assuming I don't get detention for missing curfew." Natsu's trip to Africa might not have been what he hoped, but at least he made a new hero friend that might one day help him in the future.